CD Reviews.
El Gran Combo
Nuevo Milenio - Mismo Sabor
(c) 2001 Combo Records
Distributed by: Combo Records
RATING: ****
FAVORITE TRACKS: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
After almost three years out of the recording studio, El Gran Combo has launched into the market their most aggressive record of the last 10 years. The misleading title Nuevo Milenio - El Mismo Sabor does not do enough justice to what the legendary Puerto Rican group has accomplished here. The first and last tracks, featuring Jerry Rivas and Charlie Aponte respectively, are immediate jolts of energy. Taking full advantage of their two trumpets, two saxophones, and one trombone instrumentation, the arrangements are modern and inventive. In fact they managed to masterfully pull off a tribute medley to Tito Puente filled with many of the musical signatures owned by the late Rey Del Timbal. Something past recordings of El Gran Combo lacked, are definitely abundant here. That being the song writing. Highlighting the work of Hector Parrilla, Ramon Rodriguez, Julio Castro, Geraldo Flores, Antonio Quintero, Diego Javier Gonzalez, and Rafi Monclova, by the skilled arranging of Rafael Ithier, Ernesto Sanchez, Tommy Villarini, and Ceferino Caban (of Son By Four fame), the songs have once again become meaningful and filled with swing! "Aqui No Se Sienta Nadie" 2001.
Carolina Laó
Dulce Veneno
(c) 2001 WEA Caribe
Distributed by: Warner Music
RATING: ****
FAVORITE TRACKS: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10
Truth be told, I didn't expect anything good from this record. And yes I was, in all honesty, biased and skeptical about the validity of having a gorgeous, very blond, and very white looking woman from Colombia singing salsa. Come on! Salsa - guajiras, cha-cha-cha, son montuno, like the many forms of R&B, ARE NOT a thing for Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears. Is a thing of, at the very least, tanned people. Prejudiced? Racist? Perhaps, but as it is I expected to hear some fluff that sounded like Thalia, meets Ricky Martin, meets Kike Santander & Emilio Estefan. How surprised (and relieved) I was to read on the credits Mr. Axel Martinez, Ramon Rodriguez, Osvaldo Roman, Johnny Rivera, Tito Allen, Jimmie Morales, Pedro Perez, Tito De Gracia, Luis Aquino, and the remaining core of studio musicians from Puerto Rico. I know exactly what you're thinking! This is yet another syrupy salsa sensual record. Right? Wrong! This Carolina Laó record is to my surprise a very feisty! Even her most love stricken song possesses an unique lively edge. Her voice and delivery are reminiscent of bolero songstresses Blanca Rosa Gil and Olga Guillot. Eventhough Dulce Veneno has way too many different versions of the titled song that, in it of itself, are not bad; and the sound is at times way too loud and distorted, Carolina Laó has in her hands a very impressive recording, worthy of purchase and years of enjoyment.
Bobby Valentin
Musical Seduction
(c) 1977 Bronco Records
Distributed by: Bronco Records
RATING: *****FAVORITE TRACKS: All with emphasis on 7
Reviewing the classics from the seventies has turned out to be the easiest thing to do. All I really have to do is list the credits. If you know your
salsa history listing the credits should be enough, but if for some un-Godly
reason you don't, well in time you'll learn. And you should begin by
committing the following names to memory. Elliott Romero and Yayo El Indio
on coro, Luigi Texidor on vocals, Agustin Antomattei on trumpet, Mario Roman
on piano, Danny Thompson on congas, and Bobby Valentin on bass and ALL
ARRANGEMENTS! ‘Nuff said.
RATING SYSTEM:
***** EXCELLENT (Must Have!)
**** GREAT (Very Impressive!)
*** GOOD (Safe Investment)
** AVERAGE (Not a Priority)
* POOR (Don't Waste Your Money)
LIKABLE PERCENTAGE (only applicable to classics):
IS DERIVED BY DIVIDING THE AMOUNT OF TRACKS "I LIKE", BY THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TRACKS CONTAINED IN THE PRODUCTION.
©Nestor A. Louis ALL REVIEWS ARE SOLELY THE OPINIONS OF THE AUTHOR.